Propaganda distributor



May 2, 1933.

J. E. ESHBAUGH PROPAGANDA DI STRIBUTOR Filed March 10, 1932 Patented May 2, 1933 JESSE EVERETT ESHBAUGH, or FLINT, MioHIGAN PROPAGANDA DISTRIBUTOR Application filed March 10, 1932. Serial No. 598,068.

This invention relates to a device for distributing propaganda from a free balloon or other aerostat andprovides a simple and ina expensive device of this class which will au- 5 tomatically initiate the distribution of the propaganda at a predetermined time and which will continue such distribution at an automatically regulated rate until the supply is exhausted.

lVith the above in view, the invention cons'ists of novel details of Construction and in certain combination of parts, all of which. are hereinafter fully described and specifically pointed out in the accompanying drawing,

wherein: a

Figure 1 is a view of a free balloon with the invention applied thereto, and I Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the propaganda distributor mechanism. v

In the drawing, a free balloon isrepresented at 1 and includes the net 2 which supports the propaganda distributor mechanism. This mechanism is enclosed withina casing 3 open at the bottom and including a propaganda rack 4 having a plurality of depending partitions 5 complementally apertured at 6 to receive and guide the slidable rod 7 1 upon which are supported the propaganda material 8. The rod 7 is provided atone end witli an eye 9 to which is connected one end of a flexible line 10, which is fastened at the other end to the rotatable shaft 11 of the rodactuating means. 7

The shaft 11 is suitably joui'naled in the side walls of the casing 3 and carries a large, fixedly mounted, worm gear 12 in mesh with a driving worm 13. The driving worm is fixed on a shaft 14 rotatably supported in brackets 15 and 16 of the casing. ner end of the worm shaft 14 are a plurality of rubber strands lTwhich are also secured at their oppositeends, to a crank 18 by means of which the rubber strands are twisted in order to store up in said strands suflicient motive power to rotate the worm shaft 14. The crank 18 is rotatably supported in a bearing 19 in an end wall of the casing and is slidable axially so as to be moved into and out of the line of obstruction presented by Connected to the in-1 thestop pin 20. Springs oi othertordue means may be substituted for the rubber strands, if desirable, for effecting rotation. of shaft 14. f Y

. The worm gear 12 and shaft 11 are normal.

ly held against rotation by means ofa fusible -t ie;bar 21secured at one end to. the side of gear 12 and at the other end being fastened to a convenient part of the casing. Integral with andv depending from the intermediate portion ofthe tie-bar 21 is a fuse 22 which, when ignited, burns and melts the tie-bar, thus releasing the rod-actuating mechanism. The

length of the fuse'22, which is lighted before the balloon leaves the ground, determines the 6 period of time elapsing before the device startsoperating. I 7 3 a V F or the purpose of creating abraking action or a resistance against a too rapid rota- 1 tion of the worm 13, a fan 23 is fixed to the 76' outer end of the worm shaft 14 and is located within an open tube 24. By employing a fan of the proper size and pitch, therate of distributlon of the propaganda may be regulated to any desired degree.

The operation of the device is as follows;- The propaganda to be distributed is in sheet form aperturedat25 oomplementally with the apertures 6 in the partitions 5 of the rack 4 so. that the sheets may be threaded on the 80 is lighted and the balloon released for ascension. The balloon rises for apredetermined length of time beforethe burning fuseseve'rs the tie-bar and releases the worm, gear 12. WVhen this occurs, the previously twisted rubber strands 17 act upon the worm shaft 14 to rotate the same together with the worm 13 5 and the fan 23; the fan' acting asan air brake and furnishing the necessary resistance i to limit the speed of rotationpof the worm 13. The'worm gear 12 is rotatedat a slower rate of speed by the worm 13 and turns the shaft 11 in a direction to slowly Wind the flexible line 10 around the shaft, causing the rod to be withdrawn gradually from the apertures of the propaganda sheets and thus permitting them to drop successively from the rack until the supply is exhausted.

It is to be understood that the foregoing describes but a single application of-the invention and that the latter is not limited to the exact construction herein described and illustrated but includes all such changes and modifications as properly fall within the limits and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is 1. A propaganda distributing device comprising the combination with an aerostat of means carried by the aerostat for discharging' propaganda material during the flight of the same, means normally holding the discharging means inactive, automatic means for releasing the holding means at a predetermined time, and means for regulating the rate-of distribution of the propaganda.

2. A propaganda distributing device comprising the combination with an aerostat of means for supporting propaganda material,

' means for effecting release .of the material from the supporting means, actuating means for the said material releasing means, fuslble means normally holding the actuating means inactive and including an ignitable fuse of a predetermined length, and an air brake for regulating the action of the actuating means to control the rate of propaganda distribution.

3. A propaganda distributing device comprising the combination with an aerostat of fixed guides, a slidable rod in said guides, propaganda sheets loosely supported on the said rod and, between the said guides, and

means 'forwithdrawing said rod from engagement with the said guides and propaganda sheets for effecting distribution of the latter.

4. A propaganda distributing device comprising the combination with an aerostat of fixed guides, a slidable rod in said guides, propaganda sheets threaded on the said rod and between the said guides, and automaticmeans for withdrawingthe said rod from engagement with the said guides and propaganda sheets.

5. A propaganda distributing device comprising the combination with an aerostat of relatively spaced guides, a slidable rod in said guides,propagandasheets threaded on the portion of the rod between the guides,

means for withdrawing the rod from engage. ment With the said guides and the propa ganda sheets, and means for regulating the rate of withdrawal of said rod.

6. A propaganda distributing device comprising the combination with an aerostat of relatively spaced guides, a slidable rod in thereon propaganda sheets, a twistable rubber strand, and mechanism intermediate said strand and said rod for moving said rod.

8. A device of the character described including a propaganda rack provided with a plurality of depending partitions, a freely slidable rod disposed transversely through said partitions, said rack being adapted to receive propaganda sheets threaded on said rod between the said partitions, a twistable elastic strand and an actuating connection between said strand and saidslidable rod for sliding said rod. g

y 9. A device of the character described including a propaganda rack provided with a plurality of depending partitions having complemental apertures, a freely slidable rod disposed transversely through said partitions, said rack being adapted to receive propaganda sheets threaded on said rod between the said partitions, a rotatable shaft, means connected to said shaft and said rod for moving said rod, a gear on-said shaft, a worm meshing with the gear and a twistable rubber strand for driving the worm. I 10. A device of the character described in'-' cluding a propaganda rack provided with a plurality of depending partitions having complemental apertures, a freely'slidable rod disposed transversely through said partitions, said rack being adapted to receive between the said partitions thereof propaganda sheets threaded on said slidable rod, a rotatable shaft, a flexible line connecting said slidable rod and said shaft, a gear on said shaft, aworm meshing with the gear, a twistable rubber strand for rotating the Worm and a time fuse normally holding the gear against rotation. v i

11. A device of the characterdescribed including a propaganda rack provided with a plurality of depending partitions, a freely slidable rod disposed transversely through said partitions and the said rack being adapted ,to receive propaganda sheets threaded on said rod between said partitions, a rotatable shaft, a flexible line'connecting said slidable rod and said shaft, a gear on said shaft, a worm meshing with the gear, a shaft for said worm, a crank, a twistable elastic connection between the worm shaft and the said crank,

including a propaganda rack provided with a plurality of depending partitions, a freely slidable rod disposed transversely through said partitions, said rack being adapted to receive propaganda sheets threaded on said rod between said partitions, a rotatable shaft, 2. flexible line connecting said slidable rod and said shaft, a gear fixed on said shaft, a worm meshing with the gear, a shaft for said Worm,

a crank, a twistable elastic strand connected to the shaft of the worm and to the said crank, a fan on the worm shaft and a time fuse for holding the gearing inactive until a predetermined time.

13. A device of the character described including a propaganda rack provided with a plurality of depending partitions having complemental apertures, a rod extending transversely through said partitions and freely slidable in said complemental apertures, said rack being adapted to receive propaganda sheets threaded on said rod between said partitions, a rotatable shaft,-a flexible line connecting said slidable rod and said shaft, a large gear fixed on said shaft, a small gear meshing with the large gear, a shaft for said small gear, a crank, a twistable rubber strand connected to the shaft of the small gear and to said crank, a fan on the shaft of said small gear, anda time fuse fixedly connecting said gearing to a stationary part of the device to hold the same inactfive until released by the destruction of the use.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JESSE EVERETT ESHBAUGH. 

